Jamb and door construction



July 21, 1964 G. c. RUSSELL JANE AND DooR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 2, 1962 1NVENTOR GORDON C. RUSSELL United States Patent O 3,141,205 JAMB AND DOR CUNSTRUCTION Gordon C. Russell, Studio City, Calif., assigner to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif. Fiied Mar. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 177,070 6 Claims. (Cl. 2011) This invention pertains to new and improved jamb and door construction.

At the present time it is Well known that building and other related constructions such as, for example, temporary storage bins and the like, can be constructed utilizing Wall panels which consist of a center mass of material sandwiched between two separate, rigid surface members. In such constructions it is necessary to provide various openings such as, for example, door and window openings. Normally, such a center mass of material is cornposed of cellular polystyrene, an expanded or foamed polyurethane or similar composition. Because of the nature of conventional jambs for use in finishing off or encasing the edges of walls or panels surrounding openings these prior jamb constructions are not considered desirable for use with panels or walls of types as indicated in the preceding sentence.

More specifically, conventional jambs are not considered desirable for use with this newer type of sandwhich Wall or panel because of the economic as well as utiliarian reasons. Conventional jambs have normally been fitted at a job site to a particular opening and then have been secured in place as through nailing or various related techniques. As a consequence of these factors, prior conventional jambs require comparatively skilled labor to install. This becomes particularly critical when walls or panels of a sandwich construction as indicated above are to be used in providing low-cost buildings.

In addition, the conventional doors used with conventional jambs have been comparatively expensive because of the labor required in their installation as Vwell as because of their own initial cost. Frequently, such conventional doors have been litted to a specific jamb opening on a job site and have been hung using conventional hinges after being fitted to a desired size. These operations require comparatively skilled labor and because of this factor alone a conventional type of door is a relatively expensive part of a conventional building or similar construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide new and improved jamb constructions which may be easily and conveniently manufactured at a comparatively nominal cost, which can be installed for use with many different types of panels or walls, which are very easy and inexpensive to install and which give satisfactory performance when used.

A closely related object of the present invention is to provide in combination jamb and door constructions which eliminate the various operations required to install door Within a jamb in accordance with prior practice.

Related objects of the present invention are to provide combination door and jamb constructions which are also inexpensive to manufacture, which are comparatively easy and inexpensive to instail, and which are capable of giving satisfactory service.

Various other objects of this invention as well as many specific advantages of it will be more fully apparent from a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specication including the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view showing the use of a jamb and door construction of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are partial and full cross-sectional 3,141,205 Patented July 21, 1964 e ICC views, respectively, corresponding to FIGURE 2 and showing the installation of various parts of a jamb construction of the present invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIGURE 1 and showing the construction of a modified jamb and door construction of this invention.

The accompanying drawing is primarily intended so as to clearly illustrate for explanatory purposes the nature of certain presently preferred embodiments or forms of this invention. From a detailed consideration of the remainder of this specification, it will be realized that a number of changes may be made in the precise jamb and door constructions shown through the use or exercise of routine engineering skill without departing from the features or principles of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

As an aid to understanding this invention it can be stated in essentially summary form that it concerns jamb constructions which employ in combination with one another the end or edge of a panel and lirst and second jamb members which engage opposite exterior surfaces of the panel and which iit together so as to be latched with respect to one another and so as to be secured with respect to the building panel. From this brief summary, it will be realized that the term jamb construction as used herein designates not only the members used in combination with a panel or wall, but includes these members in combination with the edge of such a panel or wall. The invention also encompasses the use of a door which is hinged to one of the members employed as hereinafter described.

The invention is best described by referring directly to the accompanying drawings. With reference to FIG- URE l, there is shown a door opening 1l) surrounded by and defined by jamb constructions 12 of the present invention. These jamb constructions 12 abut against one another and are composed of identical parts with the exception of one of the jamb constructions 12(51) which is formed so as to hold a hinge 14 which in turn supports a door 16 in such a manner that this door lits within the door opening 1li so as to enclose this opening. These jamb constructions include edges 18 of a building panel 2t), and these edges 18 are located with respect to one another so as to define what may be referred to as a door opening having straight sides.

The panel 20 employs a rigid center or core 22 which is located between and bonded to rigid sides 24. rI`hese sides are located so that the ends 26 of sides 24 are spaced from the end 28 of the core 22 as indicated in FIGURES 2-5 of the drawing. Normally, the sides 24 are covered by an adherent weather-resistant coating 3i).

Each of the jamb constructions 12 employs a first member 32 which includes a deformable cross wall 34 terminating in transverse end flanges 36. Adjacent to one of these end flanges 36, a comparatively short positioning wall 38 is attached to the cross wall 34 so as to extend from it at about a right angle. A comparatively large latch wall 40 of a rigid character is attached to each position Wall 38 so as to extend generally parallel to the cross wall 34. Each of the rst members 32 includes a comparatively rigid holding liange 42 extending from an extremity of the latch wall 40 generally parallel to the positioning Wall 38.

The extremity of each of the latch Walls 40 remote from the corresponding holding flange 42 preferably includes an elongated latch ridge 44 located on the side of the latch wall 40 remote from the positioning wall 38 as Well as a flat bottomed positioning notch 46 located opposite the cross wall 34. Preferably, a sloping wall 4S leads from the notch 46 in each of the iirst members 32 to the extremity of the latch wall 40 on which it is formed so that the end of the Wall 40 remote from the positioning notch 46 is further removed from the attached cross wall 34 than the notch 46.

Each of the jamb constructions 12 also employs a second member 50 which is formed so as to include a center portion 52 carrying at one of its extremities a holding flange 54 and a slightly resilient elongated L-shaped arm 56, to the extremity of which there is attached a latch flange 58. The other extremity of the center portion 52 of a second member 50 carries a relatively rigid compression wall 60 which extends generally at right angle to the center portion 52. Each of these compression walls 60 includes an end 62 having a shape corresponding to the shape of the positioning notch 46 and another endv 64 which is sloped with respect to the center portion 52 as indicated in FIGURES 2, 3, and 5 of the drawing.

Although it is possible to form what has been referred to above as the first and second members, 32 and 50, respectively, out of various separate parts which are secured to one another in accordance with various well known manufacturing techniques, it is presently preferred to form these first and second members 32 and 50 so that they are unitary structural elements. They may be conveniently manufactured as such unitary elements through the use of conventional extrusion equipment and techniques so that they have a uniform cross-sectional configuration. When so manufactured they may be easily cut to any desired length. Although they may be manufactured out of a number of different materials it is presently considered preferable to manufacture them out of various plastic materials such as polypropylene or other synthetic materials having related physical properties. When these first and second members 32 and 50 are formed out of such materials various parts of these members have either deformable, resilient properties as specified in the preceding because of the relatively small crosssectional configurations of such parts, or they have relatively rigid characteristics or properties because of the thicknesses of the materials within them.

The jamb construction 12 herein described can be distinguished from prior related constructions by virtue of ease with which they may be installed. The steps in installing one of these jamb constructions 12 is as illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawing. The first step in installing a jamb construction 12 of the present invention is to locate a first member 32, as illustrated in FIG- URE 2 of the drawing, so that its cross wall 34 is located generally between the interiors of the sides 24 adjacent to the edges of a panel 20. When so installed, the holding flange 42 on member 32 engages the exterior of one of the sides 24 and the edge 26 of this side 24 fits up against the latch wall 40. The first member 32 is preferably dimensioned or formed so that at this time during the installation, the cross wall 34 is bowed slightly as indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing in such a manner that the center portion of this cross wall 34 is located further from the core 22 than are the end flanges 36. Also, this cross wall 34 is preferably at least as long as the distance between the sides 24 in order to achieve an adequate holding action.

After the first member 32 has been located in this manner, a second member 50 may be installed by moving it as indicated in FIGURES 3 and 4 so that the latch flange 58 is brought into engagement with the latch ridge 44. When this second member 50 is in this position the sloping end 64 is in engagement with the cross wall 34 slightly to one side of the center of this cross wall. Next,A the second member 50 may be pushed while being rotated about the latch ridge 44 so as to force the end 64 against the cross wall 34 and so as to move the end 62 into the positioning notch 46. As this occurs the holding flange 54 will be brought up against the exterior of one of the sides 24 so that the end 26 of the side 24 fits up against this holding flange 54 and the center portion 52. At this time also the cross wall 34 will be deformed to a position as indicated in FIGURE 4 or 5 of the drawing so as to assume a position perpendicular to the sides 24 and so as to force the end flanges 36 against the interiors of these sides adjacent to the`ends 26. In effect a toggle type of action is achieved during this locking of the second member 50 with respect to the panel 20 and the first member 32 which serves to lock these three parts composing a complete jamb construction 12 of the present invention together.

From a consideration of the foregoing it will be realized that such a jamb construction 12 may be easily created without the use of expensive skilled labor and without the use of conventional woodworking or similar equipment. It will be further realized that by virtue of the type of locking action achieved when the jamb is employed in this manner, there is little possibility of a jamb construction 12 being pulled apart in normally encountered use conditions. Additionally, the holding flanges 42 and 54 adequately engage the sides 24 so as to form seals which, for practical purposes, are of a water-tight or water-resistant character.

The particular jamb construction 12(41), which is used with the hinge 14 in order to hold the door 16, may be created as indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawing. It includes a slot 66 which extends generally at a right angle to the holding flange 42 in the first member 32 from the edge of the latch Wall 40 remote from the holding flange 42 and from the latch ridge 46. Preferably, the door 16 includes another similar slot 68 formed in one of its edges 7), these slots 66 and 68 being connected by means of a flexible, generally U-shaped imperforate part 72, the center of which constitutes the hinge 14. This part extends the length of the opposed surfaces of the door 16 and the first member 32.

This particular part 72 may be formed of virtually any flexible material capable of permitting the door 16 to be moved. It is considered that preferred results can be achieved by forming this part 72 out of an extruded material such as polypropylene capable of being flexed virtually an indeterminate number of times without damage. It will also adequately support the door 16 against sagging or the like. When such materials as this are used the hinge 14 is water-tight in character. If desired, small metal fasteners 74 can be inserted through both the latch wall 40 and the door 16 in order to hold the part 72 in place.

If desired, the door 16 can be formed also by extrusion techniques at the same time a first member 32 as previously described is formed so as to be integrally formed with a first member. A construction of this type is indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawing. For convenience of designation various parts of the structure shown in FIGURE 5 which are the same as or substantially the sarne as various parts previously described are not separately designated in this specification and are indicated both in the accompanying drawing and in this specification by the same numerals previously used to discuss such parts.

Because of the nature of lthis invention it is to be considered as being limited solely by the appended claims forming a part of this disclosure.

I claim:

l. A jamb construction which includes:

(a) a building panel having sides located soV as to be spaced from another, said building panel having an edge;

(l) the interiors of said panel sides adjacent said edges, being exposed;

(b) a first resilient member directly engaging the exterior of one of said sides of said panel and extending around the corner between said side and said edge,

(l) means carried by and integral with said first member for engaging said interiors of said panel sides;

(c) a second resilient member directly engaging the exterior of the other of said sides and extending around the corner between the other of said sides and said edge,

( 1) said second member including means for holding said means for engaging the interior of said sides in engagement with both of said interiors of said sides, said means for engaging and said means for holding contacting one another; and

(d) co-acting latch means formed on said first and second members for securing said members to one another so as to hold said members in engagement with said panel.

2. A jamb construction which includes:

(a) a building panel having sides located so as to be spaced from another, said building panel having an edge,

(l) the interiors of said panel sides adjacent said edges, being exposed;

(b) a first resilient member directly engaging the exterior of one of said sides of said panel and extending around the corner between said side and said edge,

(1) means carried by and integral with said first member for engaging said interiors of said panel sides;

(c) a second resilient member directly engaging the exterior of the other of said sides and extending around the corner between the other of said sides and said edge,

(1) said second member including means for holding said means for engaging the interior of said sides in engagement with both of said interiors of said sides, said means for engaging and said means for holding contacting one another;

(d) co-acting latch means formed on said first and second members for securing said members to one another so as to hold said members in engagement with said panel;

(e) door means located adjacent said first member;

and

(f) a flexible imperforate elongated hinge extending the length of said first member and said door and connecting said first member and said door.

3. A jamb construction which includes:

(a) a rigid building panel having sides located so as to be spaced from one another, the edges of said sides projecting from the remainder of said panel;

(b) a first jamb member having a deformable cross wall extending between said sides adjacent to said edges and contacting the interiors of said sides, said cross wall being at least as long as the distance between said sides, a rigid latch wall extending generally parallel to said cross wall and across the edge of one of said sides, positioning means connecting said latch Wall and said cross wall, latch means formed on said latch wall, and a holding flange formed on said latch wall, said holding flange engaging the exterior of one of said sides; and

(c) a second jamb member having a center portion, a holding flange attached to said center portion and engaging the exterior of the other of said sides, another latch means integral with said second jamb member co-acting with said first latch means so as to hold said first and second jamb members with respect to one another, and means on said second jamb member for engaging said cross wall so as to deform said cross wall and hold said cross wall in engagement with the interiors of said sides.

4. A jamb construction which includes:

(a) a rigid building panel having sides located so as to be spaced from one another and so as to be parallel to one another, the edges of said sides projecting from the remainder of said panel;

(b) a first jamb member having a deformable crosswall extending between the interiors of said sides adjacent to said edges and contacting said sides, a positioning Wall extending from said cross-Wall and being attached thereto, a rigid latch wall attached to said positioning wall and extending generally parallel to said cross-wall and across the edge of one of said sides, a rigid latch ridge formed on the extremity of said latch wall located generally between said sides, and a rigid holding ilange formed on said latch wall and engaging the exterior of one of said sides; and

(c) a second jamb member having a center portion, a rigid holding flange attached to the center portion, and engaging the exterior of the other of said sides, a latch flange attached to said center portion and engaging said latch ridge on said latch wall, and a rigid compression wall attached to said center portion and extending between and bearing against said cross-wall and said latch-wall.

5. A jamb construction for a building panel having spaced sides projecting from the internal portion thereof comprising:

(a) a first jamb member having a holding flange engageable with the exterior of one of the panel sides, an integral wall member extending substantially nor mally from said holding flange and including latch means on an end thereof opposite said holding flange, and a flexible cross wall extending from said Wall member and positionable between interior surfaces of the panel sides; and

(b) a second jamb member having a second holding flange engageable with the exterior of the other of the panel sides, a cen-ter portion and an arm member integrally extending substantially normal to said second holding flange and substantially parallel to one another, said center portion including a compression wall engageable with said latch means and said cross wall and adapted for forcing said cross wall into engagement with the interiors of the panel sides, and said arm member including a ange engageable with said latch means opposite of said compression wall.

6. The jamb construction of claim 5 wherein said first jamb is slotted to accept a longitudinally extending hinge, a flexible hinge member is sealably aflixed within said slot and to a supported closure structure, and wherein said flange upon said arm member is adapted to stop movement of such closure structure.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,309,452 Hasenberger et al. Jan. 26, 1943 2,507,965 Eichner May 16, 1950 2,717,666 Morales Sept. 13, 1955 2,902,727 Samolis Sept. 8, 1959 2,984,299 Vallarelli et al. May 16, 1961 

1. A JAMB CONSTRUCTION WHICH INCLUDES: (A) A BUILDING PANEL HAVING SIDES LOCATED SO AS TO BE SPACED FROM ANOTHER, SAID BUILDING PANEL HAVING AN EDGE; (1) THE INTERIORS OF SAID PANEL SIDES ADJACENT SAID EDGES, BEING EXPOSED; (B) A FIRST RESILIENT MEMBER DIRECTLY ENGAGING THE EXTERIOR OF ONE OF SAID SIDES OF SAID PANEL AND EXTENDING AROUND THE CORNER BETWEEN SAID SIDE AND SAID EDGE, (1) MEANS CARRIED BY AND INTERGRAL WITH SAID FIRST MEMBER FOR ENGAGING SAID INTERIORS OF SAID PANEL SIDES; (C) A SECOND RESILIENT MEMBER DIRECTLY ENGAGING THE EXTERIOR OF THE OTHER OF SAID SIDES AND EXTENDING AROUND THE CORNER BETWEEN THE OTHER OF SAID SIDES AND SAID EDGE, (1) SAID SECOND MEMBER INCLUDING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE INTERIOR OF SAID SIDES IN ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTH OF SAID INTERIORS OF SAID SIDES, SAID MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND SAID MEANS FOR HOLDING CONTACTING ONE ANOTHER; AND (D) CO-ACTING LATCH MEANS FORMED ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS FOR SECURING SAID MEMBERS TO ONE ANOTHER SO AS TO HOLD SAID MEMBERS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PANEL. 